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How Schumacher won his toughest Ferrari title

We celebrate the Ferrari F2003-GA in which Michael Schumacher overtook the great Juan Manuel Fangio. Words: DAMIEN SMITH

The GA stands for Gianni Agnelli, a fitting memorial to the man who saved Ferrari and kept the Italian tricolore flying proud over Maranello. It was at the end of the 1960s that this titan of Italian business and politics succeeded where Ford had failed by negotiating a controlling interest to keep Ferrari solvent. On the face of it, Enzo maintained power over his scarlet empire - but in truth, it was Fiat's 'kingmaker' who held the keys during the last 20 years of the Old Man's life.

Now Agnelli himself was gone, mortal after all, as prostate cancer claimed him at the age of 81. Just a couple of weeks later the wraps would be removed from Ferrari's new Formula 1 car at a suitably muted Fiorano launch. Following the domination of 2002, it seemed entirely predictable that Michael Schumacher and his red machine would continue to smash F1 into submission. And, yes, he would honour Agnelli's memory as Italy saw fit, with a fourth consecutive world title and a personal sixth to surpass Juan Manuel Fangio's five. But this was one that almost slipped away.

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